Dubrovnik and EU reps discuss appropriate connection of Croatia's south

Dubrovnik Mayor Andro Vlahušić, Croatian Assistant Transport Minister Jasmin Krizmanić and an official from the European Union's Delegation in Croatia, Richard Masa, on Friday toured the construction site of Peljesac Bridge in Brijesta and discussed models for the necessity of appropriately linking Croatia's southernmost area with the rest of the country before Croatia joined the EU on 1 July 2013.

According to a press release from the Office of the Dubrovnik Mayor, this visit for the purpose of EU technical inspection is a part of intensified activities of the Croatian government and the EU Delegation after the adoption of an initiative to connect Croatia's south, as presented by Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić to the European Commission in Brussels.

During today's meeting, Vlahušić said that a majority of Croatians supported the country's accession to the EU for the sake of enhanced freedom of movement, however, the residents of Dubrovnik now fear isolation in the event that no proper road traffic solution is found before the application of the Schengen regime at the Croatian-Bosnian border at Neum, the only coastal stretch of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which cuts off the Croatian Adriatic coast.

According to the statement, the EU representatives reassured the Dubrovnik authorities that until then a quality solution would be found and that the EU was ready to co-finance it.


(Hina)